The Middlebury softball team lost both ends of a non-conference doubleheader in the squad's final two regular-season games to Union on a windy and wet Tuesday afternoon. The Dutchwomen (21-11) picked up the win in game one by an 8-6 tally, and were victorious during the nightcap by a 4-3 score in a game shortened to six innings due to darkness. The Panthers (18-14) will square off with Tufts on Friday evening in the NESCAC Tournament at 5:00 p.m., while Union plays RPI in the Liberty League Tournament on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

In game one, the visitors jumped on the board in the top of the first with three unearned runs on just two hits and one Panther error. Dani Hennel and Aimee Palleschi started things off with back-to-back singles to center field. The pair moved up a base on a wild pitch, and both scored on a Middlebury fielding error. Alyssa Wolejko reached on the miscue and moved to second. Wolejko raced to third on a groundout, and scored on a ground ball off the bat of Joanna Chalifoux.

Union held that 3-0 advantage until the bottom of the second. Sarah Freyre led off with a double that short-hopped the wall in right-center field, and Carlyn Vachow drew a walk. Christina Bicks kept the momentum going when she smacked a base hit up the middle, scoring Freyre from second and moving Vachow to third. Bicks moved to second on the throw home. Emma Hamilton laid down a bunt base hit, plating Vachow and advancing Bicks to third. Bicks would scamper home on a sacrifice fly to right off the bat of Kimber Sable.

The score remained tied at 3-3 until the top of the sixth when the Dutchwomen scored three times on four base hits. Camille Corbin had an RBI single to right, while Hennel smacked a two-run single up the middle scoring Lindsay Cohen, who singled earlier in the inning, as well as Corbin.

The visitors tacked on two more unearned runs in the top of the seventh, making it an 8-3 game. Allyson Staats laced a one-out single and Chalifoux doubled to right-center, putting runners on second and third. Corbin sent a ball that was misplayed, allowing both Staats and Chalifoux to score.

Middlebury looked to mount a comeback with an RBI single from Hye-Jin Kim, and a two-run single off the bat of Bicks. However, Wolejko worked out of the jam by inducing a groundout to end the game.

Wolejko picked up the win for Union (11-6), giving up six runs on 12 hits while striking out seven and walking two. Hennel was 2-4 with two RBI, while Staats was also 2-4 with a pair of runs scored. Chalifoux also had a multi-hit game for the Dutchwomen, going 2-3.

In the nightcap, the visitors scored all the runs they would need in the top of the second. Sending nine batters to the plate, the Dutchwomen scored four times via six well-placed hits. Kristin Schmidt singled to center, bringing home Chalifoux from third following a lead-off single. Hennel followed with a hard-hit ball that glanced off the third baseman's glove for an RBI single. Palleschi had an RBI on a groundout to short, while Wolejko laced a run-scoring single through the left side for Union's sixth hit of the inning.

Middlebury cut the Union lead in half during the home half of the second. Emma Hamilton singled to right, scoring Freyre, who started the rally with a base knock down the right-field line. Sable placed a double down the left field line, bringing Hannah Marks home from second following her single to right center.  

Union held on to its 4-2 lead until the fifth. Bicks started things off with a single to left, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. Freyre stepped to the plate and smoked a hard-hit base hit that fell just inside the left-field line. A few batters later with Freyre on third and Emily Smith, who reached on a Dutchwoman throwing error, standing on second, Staats worked out of a jam when she got Marks to line out to second.

Neither team threatened in the sixth, as the game was called due to darkness.

Staats (10-5) picked up the victory, surrendering three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts. Hennel led the charge for Union at the plate, going 3-4 with an RBI.

Neve Stearns (4-5) took the loss going the first four innings. She gave up four runs on nine hits, while Erin Giles came on in relief pitching two perfect innings, including two strikeouts. Freyre and Hamilton were both 2-3 for Middlebury, including a triple in the fourth from Hamilton.